Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 42, Number 297, 25 October 1917 — Page 9

. . THE KiCHMOND i?AUADlUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 1917..

PAGE NINE POLITICAL. ADVERTISEMENT PAID BY THE CITIZENS TICKHl

One of the functions of a city government is to protect the rights of users of utility product? The iisers of gas in Richmond never stood so badly in need of protection as right now?; The seventy cent gas rate authorized by the old Indiana Public Service Commission is as vicious as it is unjust; it is nothing short of licensed highway robbery. The rate is out of all proportions to what is necessary to give a fair profit on the company's legitimate investment or justified by the quality of service. I would not be understood as antagonizing capital or being opposed to a just and fair profit; on the contrary, I would be inclined to err on the side of liberality; but in this gas rate case I feel that every resource at the city's disposal should be used to defeat the purpose of the Richmond Light, Heat and Power Company in their efforts to perpetuate this seventy cent rate. The rate, however, is authorized and will have to be paid until the appeal taken by the city is acted upon by the Circuit Court before whom the case is now pending. It is important the people of Richmond recognize that those who aided in placing this unjust burden upon us are lined up solidly in support of Dr. W. W. Zimmerman. Why? They see in Dr. Zimmerman the least resistance to their iniquitous purposes. They are looking for easy money. They are determined to get it. Their hope is to have a change in policy at the City Hall. Are you going to permit that change? Let us look at the big outstanding features of this gas question: The Public Service Commission found that the Richmond Light, Heat and Power Company is entitled to gross receipts to cover the following expenses:

For Operating Expenses For Depreciation Fund For Payment of Taxes For 7 profit on $450,000

$102,000 9,000 8,000 31,500

Total $150,500 The earnings of the company, as shown by their sworn statement, lacked approximately $25,000.00 of reaching that figure and to cover that deficiency an increase of 30 cents per 1000 cubic feet of gas was authorized. The unreasonableness of that increase is shown in the further sworn statement that the volume of gas sold in one year was 325,000,000 cubic feet. It should be easy for any one to see that a 10 cent increase would produce $32,000.00 to meet a deficiency of $25,000.00. . . , - Yet the Commission authorized a 30 cent increase; 3 times more than was necessary. Who bears the lion's share of this increase? The small consumer. It was shown that ninety-five per cent of users of gas pay the maximum rate ; so ninety-five per c ent of this increase is to be borne by the small users, and it rests with you Mr. and Mrs. Ninety-five Per Cent to say whether or not the Light, Heat and Power Company shall be permitted to enjoy the fruits of this manifest injustice without a fight. I pledge myself to see that justice is secured for you? We have every right to continue the fight; but the greatest fight is to be waged aga inst the machine politician. The way to beat him successfully is to separate our city's business from party politics. , ALFRED BAVIS.